Combine Objects Along Same Y-Plane Slice

combine_slices.py

### combine_slices.py
### author: Kelly Yu

import maya.cmds as cmds

cmds.select(clear=1)
# get slices
bunny_slices = cmds.ls('polySurface*', o=True)
# remove surface shapes
bunny_slices = [s for s in bunny_slices if 'Shape' not in s]
# slice_number to slice_name
slices_map = {}

# for each slice:
for slice in bunny_slices:
    # get ymin and ymax
    ((_,_), (ymin,ymax), (_,_)) = cmds.polyEvaluate(slice, boundingBox=True)
    # get slice index based on ymin and ymax
    slice_number = str(int(ymax/0.135 + 1)).zfill(3)
    # init slices_map list if necessary and add the slice to the list that corresponds to its slice number
    if slice_number not in slices_map:
        slices_map[slice_number] = [slice]
    else:
        slices_map[slice_number].append(slice)

for grouped_slices in slices_map.keys():
    # if along a slice there are multiple objects
    if len(slices_map[grouped_slices]) > 1:
        # combine these objects
        cmds.polySelect(slices_map[grouped_slices], r=True)
        cmds.polyUnite(slices_map[grouped_slices])